Nicki Minaj: 'American Idol' Feud Definitely Isn't Fake

Nicki Minaj stopped by The Tonight Show with Jay Leno last night, where she confirmed that her feud with fellow American Idol judge Mariah Carey definitely isn't fake. "It's just one of those weird things, you gotta see it to get it," Minaj told Leno.

"A lot of it just starts out us joking, but we're passionate, we're both crazy," Minaj continued. "And then sometimes it just goes" – she lets out a angry cat meow – "and you can't really stop it." Leno and Minaj went on to talk about the media blowing up the tiff to catfight proportions because both Carey and Minaj are women, to which Nicki agreed before quickly pointing out: "Well, you've been a feud before with a guy."

Word of the Minaj and Carey's feud started last summer when auditions for Idol began. After the show downplayed initial rumors, video surfaced of Minaj flinging a torrent of swears at Carey – shouting at one point, "I told them, I'm not fucking putting up with her fucking highness over there" – surfaced.

Carey also claimed she heard Minaj say, "If I had a gun, I would shoot that bitch," off camera, prompting the singer to hire extra security for her family. "Anytime anybody's reeling threats at somebody, you know it's not appropriate," said Carey. "I'm a professional. I'm not used to that type of environment."